Britain under spam siege

CRIMINAL gangs using hijacked computers are behind a surge in unwanted email peddling sex, drugs and stock tips in Britain. The number of spam messages has tripled since June and now accounts for as many as nine out of 10 emails sent worldwide, according to US email security company Postini.

As Christmas approaches, the daily trawl through in-boxes clogged with offers of fake Viagra, loans and sex aids is tipped to take even longer.